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Friday, December 18, 2009

Picking up some of the pieces

Don't get me wrong: I love my new life here! But this year has held so many changes, I feel like I've lost my grip on being creative. And I'm ready to change that!

A few days ago, Judy wrotea thought-provoking postabout setting goals for oneself. It got me to pondering about what I had planned to accomplish in 2009, and about what I really got done. Of course this has been an exceptionally busy year, so my lack of creativity is understandable. But more and more lately -- now that life has begun to return to a level of normalcy -- I catch myself drifting unthethered in needle-and-thread-dreamland. I could make this quilt, or that one, or that one. I could start any number of cross-stitch projects. I could get going on a rug hooking adventure, or knitting, or ... or ... you get the idea. No goals, no direction: just lots of disconnected wishful thinking, and not much at all getting done. I am working very slowly on my Mountain Home Sampler project, but that's it.

Remember back in January when I set out to do the Block-a-Day series? And also to participate in the weekly Friday Block Party? All the pieces of those intentions got stuffed into tubs and bags when life began to change last spring. A HUGE load of unfinished business has been lurking in the back of my mind ever since. I'm a little leery about sticking my neck out and making the commitment, but I've decided to loop back around and undertake both of those challenges (again) in 2010. I think doing so will give me focus, and structure, and specific goals to meet, and also -- hopefully -- a sense of completion.

I've begun rounding up all those scattered pieces from early in the year, and getting myself organized to start again. Look at this collection of B-a-D bags -- plenty to keep me busy here! And to get the ball rolling again at Friday Block Party, I'm jumping back in with Week 50, Double Hourglass, and will take it from there.

I should end up with several nice sampler quilts as 2010 goes along, and also a renewed sense of direction. And I'll feel more free to start something new once I put some of this old unfinished stuff to rest. Stay tuned!

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GRATITUDES

1. The lovely sounds the chickadees make at the feeders -- they have such soft pretty voices

2. Feeling organized and purposeful for a change :)

3. A happy cheerful phone conversation with Nick -- he and Stacey received their gift package

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10 comments:

Staying on track and sticking with projects is hard to do even when there are no life interruptions like you had this last year. Now that you are settled in your beautiful new home I hope that you can accomplish all that you dream of doing - and if you do accomplish it all, you will certainly inspire this lazy quilter even more. I can always find time to put a jigsaw puzzle together, or do a Sudoku puzzle, or read my favorite blogs - but putting that last border on a quilt takes forever!

You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.A Vision Wall (inspiring images attached to yor goals) is available too.Works also on mobile.

A friend and I are going to try a block-a-day this year and also a BOM together. We plan to work on the B-a-Days by ourselves and get together every 2 weeks to show and tell those and work on the BOM. We both have several other things going on too. But are hopeful that we can make this new adventure a habit. So you're way ahead of us. I keep trying to remember it's the process that is important. It will be cool at the end of 2010 to have a nice stack of visible 'accomplishments' that we all seem to crave. But more important will be lovely memories of time spent with a friend doing something we both love.Merry Christmas to you and yours. I've so enjoyed your blog and 'getting to know you' in this strange blogosphere I find myself in. Diane :)

I can empathise with you on this one. I lost my mother in December 08 and 2009 was filled with, I could do this or I want to do that and ended up with very little. I find I need a little self discipline and I'm going to start in the New Year and post things on my blog (that's something else that got lost by the wayside) that I'm going to do. Hopefully that will keep me on the straight and narrow. Perhaps we can swap notes with each other!!

I've been the wandering sewer/crafter of late, too! It seems I work best with a deadline, even a self-imposed one. That's probably true for most people! I applaud your getting this sorted for yourself and seeing what you can can accomplish in the new year. Unfinished projects, even hidden away, do weigh on my mind too! After the holiday and visitors go, a reorganization is in line for me as well, before I have to head back to work Jan 4.

I find that the hardest part is getting started. You've had so much going on. It wasn't just a move . . it was so much more for you. Sometimes when I'm wanting to go sew or knit and it's just not happening, I ask myself "what do I really want to do?" If it's sew . . then I get up right then and go sew. Usually I'm real happy with my decision and then I don't want to stop. Good luck with getting back into the swing of being creative. Don't forget though . . do whatever makes you happy!